Tap Into Business Solutions! This is just part of the article. Want the complete story, plus a host of other brand-boosting articles to make your job easier? Sign up!

Carlotta Jacobson, president of Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW), introduced Jill Scalamandre, chairwoman, CEW board, and Julie Pinkwater, VP and publisher, Ladies Home Journal (event sponsor) to a celebratory awards luncheon at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria. Pinkwater acknowledged CEW’s efforts to recognize the achievements of women and their contributions to the industry.

Leslie Blodgett, CEO, Bare Escentuals, was the first recipient of the 2006 award. Blodgett turned what was approximately an $8 million company in 1999 into a company with $350 million in sales. Recalling how her mother noted her singular gift as one of “emotional intelligence,” Blodgett leveraged her talents to create a successful brand of mineral cosmetics. Michael Gould, president, Bloomingdale’s, presented the next award to Lynne Greene, global president, Clinique, who shared tips on becoming a successful female leader. She thanked Leonard Lauder for his gift of “saying uncommon things in common words.”

Anne Gottlieb, president, Anne Gottlieb Associates, presented the next award to Silvia Lagnado, senior VP, Dove. Lagnado, who directed her team in the creation of the Dove Real Beauty campaign, noted that the campaign has sparked debate about beauty and “helped to debunk myths about beauty.” Ultimately, the initiative “Supports efforts to raise the self-esteem of women and helps to create programs that help women with issues of self-esteem,” said Lagnado. “Ultimately, we wanted to make a statement about the democratization of beauty and help provide individuals with the courage to face the world as women.”

Want the rest of the story? Simply sign up. It’s easy. Plus, it only takes 1 minute and it’s free!

Actress Sarah Jessica Parker presented the next award to Catherine Walsh, senior VP, American Fragrances, Coty Prestige Worldwide. Parker acknowledged Walsh’s ability and expertise in helping to create many of the notable products and prestige fragrance in the Coty portfolio.

Lastly, Andrea Jung, CEO, Avon, presented the CEW Lifetime Achiever Award to Susan Kropf, recently retired president and COO, Avon Products, Inc. Kropf cited the importance of the company you are working with, noting “The company trumps the job every time.” She added, “Never forget where you started, humility goes a long way” and “Never stop learning.” She credited her mother, who advised her to be strong and persevere, and her husband, who said “Sometimes you just have to let things go.”